The terms “book” and “novel” cannot accurately describe this masterpiece of words by Foer. Within Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, Jonathan Safran Foer creates an artistic and unique storyline which perfectly portrays the post 9/11 world. Foer delves into the heartache and grief faced by a young boy Oskar, and his family, as they attempt to come to terms with the ever present reality of death. At the heart of the novel stands the precocious protagonist, Oskar Schell, who has recently lost his father in the 9/11 attacks. In an attempt to hold onto his father’s memory, Oskar begins a journey to uncover what he believes is a mystery surrounding a key that he finds among his father’s belongings. Throughout the novel, Oskar invokes a significant sympathetic response on the part of the reader; he possesses a plethora of human characteristics and emotions, and on the whole is an entirely believable character.
In Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, Foer uses a wide array of visual elements and distinctive typography to chronicle the emotions and adventures of Oskar. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close is part novel, part poetry, and part illustration; Foer creates a new manner of storytelling which is compelling and honest. He transforms mere words into a heartbreaking reality which is enhanced by his impeccable style.
As a side note: I underlined multiple sentences, phrases and paragraphs in my copy of Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close that I thought were just too touching, truthful and beautiful to pass by without some type of recognition. Jonathan Safran Foer has a way of writing that communicates human emotion and thought in a magical way. I picked a few sentences that I thought were particularly moving (removed from the context of the novel, it is a lot harder to understand the emotion behind them, but here they are anyway!):
“I like to see people reunited, maybe that’s a silly thing, but what can I say, I like to see people run to each other, I like the kissing and the crying, I like the impatience, the stories that the mouth can’t tell fast enough, the ears that aren’t big enough, the eyes that can’t take in all of the change, I like the hugging, the bringing together, the end of missing someone” (109)
“Sometimes I can hear my bones straining under the weight of all the lives I’m not living” (113).
“I thought, it’s a shame that we have to live, but it’s a tragedy that we get to live only one life” (133).
“You cannot protect yourself from sadness without protecting yourself from happiness” (180).
“He stared at me so hard that I wondered if he wasn’t listening to me at all, or if he was trying to hear something incredibly quiet underneath what I was saying, sort of like a metal detector, but for truth instead of metal” (255).
Overall, I have awarded Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close 19 points out of 20. Foer’s novel met all of my criteria, with the sole exception of subsection F in Category 3: Plot. I felt that Jonathan Safran Foer ended his novel somewhat abruptly and did not really tie the novel together in a satisfactory manner. Below, please find my system breakdown for a better understanding of how I awarded the points!
Total Points Awarded:
19
Point Breakdown 101:
Category 1: Theme
A. Consistent and clear theme(s)
B. Fully developed and explored theme(s)
-Tie into plot and character development
C. Thought invoking theme(s)
Total Points Received in this Category: 3
Category 2: Characters
A. Characters are unique
B. Characters are animated and relatable (3 dimensional)
C. Characters possess human characteristics and depth
D. Character learns something about self or world; Experiences a moment of clarity/ revelation
E. Characters seek to enhance plot and themes
Total Points Received in this Category: 5
Category 3: Plot
A. Beginning, middle and end (although not necessarily in that order)
-Organized structure (interrelation of all parts of a story to make a whole; completeness)
B. Cohesive, thoughtful design to story telling
C. Meaningful, significant purpose (what aim to reveal, criticize, or showcase)
-Clarity, thoughtfulness and relevance of detail to enhance purpose
D. Presence of a struggle /conflict/ trial/ adversity
E. Interesting/ attention holding
F. Satisfying Conclusion
-Brings together Plot, Theme, Character in a succinct and satisfactory manner
Total Points Received in this Category: 5
***Points Lost: Did not meet requirement F.
Category 4: Style
A. Writing style is accessible to readers (not elevated language)
B. Style accurately communicates themes and enhances character representations
C. Contains consistency in expression, execution and design of ideas
D. Illuminates rather than obscures basic human truths
E. Effectively helps to create a complete reality
F. Effectively communicates human emotion with unique and powerful language
Total Points Received in this Category: 6
Caitlin’s Overall Opinion of the BOOK:
Without hesitation, I advise you to pick this novel up and read it…you won’t regret it.
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